Space The Final Frontier?

[Guest che]

Hi.

My eldest son is in the process of completing an astronomy project, and this involves looking at the attempts by NASA and others to move beyond the 'know universe' or indeed to explore our solar system.

So the question I was debating with my son was, is the relative cost and benefits of space exploration, more beneficial than using these resources to support social and health care?

Is it useful that we spend vast resourses to try and explore the 'universe'? Whilst we seem to cut social care and benefits to the most needy/

Che.

[AfricaBrass]

I consider the exploration of space to be science and I consider science important.

I'm sad that Nasa isn't funding some really good projects (like the Hubble telescope) anymore. I don't really care about landing on other planets, but I do enjoy the effort to see farther into space and to understand our place in it.

The argument that we could use the money for better purposes could be applied to almost anything. Even if they took the funding away, I'd bet you a Greg Osby cd that it wouldn't go to the purposes that you mentioned.

(I think this topic will eventually be moved to Politics - it's hard to discuss this without going there).

[Guest che]

I consider the exploration of space to be science and I consider science important.

I'm sad that Nasa isn't funding some really good projects (like the Hubble telescope) anymore. I don't really care about landing on other planets, but I do enjoy the effort to see farther into space and to understand our place in it.

The argument that we could use the money for better purposes could be applied to almost anything. Even if they took the funding away, I'd bet you a Greg Osby cd that it wouldn't go to the purposes that you mentioned.

(I think this topic will eventually be moved to Politics - it's hard to discuss this without going there).

I always enjoy reading your posts.

Che.

[Guest che]

I consider the exploration of space to be science and I consider science important.

I'm sad that Nasa isn't funding some really good projects (like the Hubble telescope) anymore. I don't really care about landing on other planets, but I do enjoy the effort to see farther into space and to understand our place in it.

The argument that we could use the money for better purposes could be applied to almost anything. Even if they took the funding away, I'd bet you a Greg Osby cd that it wouldn't go to the purposes that you mentioned.

(I think this topic will eventually be moved to Politics - it's hard to discuss this without going there).

Africabrass.

You have always come across to me as someone that thinks before you post.

I guess I am in favour of space exploration, but I would question at what cost?

Che.

[AfricaBrass]

I consider the exploration of space to be science and I consider science important.

I'm sad that Nasa isn't funding some really good projects (like the Hubble telescope) anymore. I don't really care about landing on other planets, but I do enjoy the effort to see farther into space and to understand our place in it.

The argument that we could use the money for better purposes could be applied to almost anything. Even if they took the funding away, I'd bet you a Greg Osby cd that it wouldn't go to the purposes that you mentioned. 

(I think this topic will eventually be moved to Politics - it's hard to discuss this without going there).

Africabrass.

You have always come across to me as someone that thinks before you post.

I guess I am in favour of space exploration, but I would question at what cost?

Che.

I guess I'm looking at a different issue.

I don't really believe the space program has anything to do with those who need help not getting it. I figure if our leaders truly wanted to address social needs, they would move Heaven and Earth to make it happen.

If... the space program really kept people from getting what they needed, then of course, I'd say it's not that necessary, but I think if they closed Nasa today, then that money would go somewhere else. It wouldn't be used for social causes.

My country is running on credit as it is.

[AfricaBrass]

I consider the exploration of space to be science and I consider science important.

I'm sad that Nasa isn't funding some really good projects (like the Hubble telescope) anymore. I don't really care about landing on other planets, but I do enjoy the effort to see farther into space and to understand our place in it.

The argument that we could use the money for better purposes could be applied to almost anything. Even if they took the funding away, I'd bet you a Greg Osby cd that it wouldn't go to the purposes that you mentioned. 

(I think this topic will eventually be moved to Politics - it's hard to discuss this without going there).

Africabrass.

You have always come across to me as someone that thinks before you post.

I guess I am in favour of space exploration, but I would question at what cost?

Che.

Thank you, Che!

I try to think before I post, but it doesn't always happen.

[RDK]

I agree with AB completely!

[Guest che]

I consider the exploration of space to be science and I consider science important.

I'm sad that Nasa isn't funding some really good projects (like the Hubble telescope) anymore. I don't really care about landing on other planets, but I do enjoy the effort to see farther into space and to understand our place in it.

The argument that we could use the money for better purposes could be applied to almost anything. Even if they took the funding away, I'd bet you a Greg Osby cd that it wouldn't go to the purposes that you mentioned. 

(I think this topic will eventually be moved to Politics - it's hard to discuss this without going there).

Africabrass.

You have always come across to me as someone that thinks before you post.

I guess I am in favour of space exploration, but I would question at what cost?

Che.

Thank you, Che!

I try to think before I post, but it doesn't always happen.

Well you know I just post anyway

My son was interested in the cost of space exploration, and the short and medium term benefits. Billions's are spent of the latest trip to Mars, and yet people still starve in the World.

Any thoughts?

Che.

[Guest che]

Back in the Apollo days everything seemed fine, there was a sense or purpose or was there? And of course their was a 'space race'.

Now I guess we need to question what the 'point' of space exploration is?

Che.

[AfricaBrass]

Back in the Apollo days everything seemed fine, there was a sense or purpose or was there? And of course their was a 'space race'.

Now I guess we need to question what the 'point' of space exploration is?

Che.

One thing that came out of the space race was the increase in technology.

Personally, I don't see any reason to go to Mars. I'm all for good telescopes and satellites.

[Guest che]

Back in the Apollo days everything seemed fine, there was a sense or purpose or was there? And of course their was a 'space race'.

Now I guess we need to question what the 'point' of space exploration is?

Che.

One thing that came out of the space race was the increase in technology.

Personally, I don't see any reason to go to Mars. I'm all for good telescopes and satellites.

Well how about the view that one day we (the human race) will need to have 'space' to expand?

As we (mainly the US) use up our natural resourses, and we find ourselves in a situation in which we may not be able to feed ourselves, the logical answer is to expand into 'space'.

Are you familier with the 'Martian Chronicles' by Ray Bradbury?

This maybe a view of what will happen?

Che.

[AfricaBrass]

Back in the Apollo days everything seemed fine, there was a sense or purpose or was there? And of course their was a 'space race'.

Now I guess we need to question what the 'point' of space exploration is?

Che.

One thing that came out of the space race was the increase in technology.

Personally, I don't see any reason to go to Mars. I'm all for good telescopes and satellites.

Well how about the view that one day we (the human race) will need to have 'space' to expand?

As we (mainly the US) use up our natural resourses, and we find ourselves in a situation in which we may not be able to feed ourselves, the logical answer is to expand into 'space'.

Are you familier with the 'Martian Chronicles' by Ray Bradbury?

This maybe a view of what will happen?

Che.

Yes, I'm familiar with Bradbury.

You're right, we may need to expand into Space. I just hope that we can develop new resources that don't deplete that planet before that happens.

I guess I hold the view that if a race gets proficient enough, they will leave the planet eventually. I just don't think we're there yet. We've got a lot of growing to do.

[Guest che]

Bradbury painted a picture of what may happen as 'mankind' expands onto and into other planets.

In the end his vision was that we do the same on Mars as we do on earth, that is we use up natural resourses, kill each other etc etc. And so Mars becomes another earth, only Spender (one of the characters) sees an alternative, he is demonized and seen as 'mad' by the others who arrive on Mars.

Che.

[Guest che]

Fuck NASA... except that it provides public service jobs, its greatest contribution has been the ongoing militarization of space & we all know where THAT puts us. Granted, I dig being able to watch the Tour de France live but we knew how to deliver satellites what... 35 years ago? I'm hardly anti-intellectual but man is a bad animal & the costs are far too great, spare me all the bullshit piety for spectacular space shuttle fragments & worry about...

fixing EARTH, or at least retarding certain irrevocable damages (water supplies, brownfields).

ALSO-- even the IDEA that hmmmm, maybe space ** is ** an option leads inexorably to less concern for things here in Georgia.

how many trees can you (re)plant on a clear cut lot for the cost one cruise missile?

parallel Q: does RDK dig PKD?

dr. bloodmoney

athens, ga

As for the ' Le Tour' I am impressed that you seem to know what this is And I am sick of Lance Armstrong winning

So how can we fix it that Lance or the 'Americans' do not win, and we can see some purpose in Space?

Che.

[AfricaBrass]

I'm with you, Clem. I think fixing the Earth should be a top concern. I feel sorry for any other race of creatures off this world who would run across us. That's why I said we have a long way to go.

If we ruin this planet, why do we deserve to be able to go and ruin other ones?

Both of my grandfathers worked for NASA and I grew up loving this stuff. Maybe I'm a little romantic about it all. I just don't see why they're scrapping stuff like the Hubble Telescope and concentrating on a manned mission to Mars.

But... if they really would take the money from the space program and really use it for constructive concerns, I'd support that. If they're just going to waste it on a war or something negative, then I'd rather keep the space program. In truth, I believe NASA has lost their way.

[AfricaBrass]

Fuck NASA... except that it provides public service jobs, its greatest contribution has been the ongoing militarization of space & we all know where THAT puts us. Granted, I dig being able to watch the Tour de France live but we knew how to deliver satellites what... 35 years ago? I'm hardly anti-intellectual but man is a bad animal & the costs are far too great, spare me all the bullshit piety for spectacular space shuttle fragments & worry about...

fixing EARTH, or at least retarding certain irrevocable damages (water supplies, brownfields).

ALSO-- even the IDEA that hmmmm, maybe space ** is ** an option leads inexorably to less concern for things here in Georgia.

how many trees can you (re)plant on a clear cut lot for the cost one cruise missile?

parallel Q: does RDK dig PKD?

dr. bloodmoney

athens, ga

As for the ' Le Tour' I am impressed that you seem to know what this is And I am sick of Lance Armstrong winning

So how can we fix it that Lance or the 'Americans' do not win, and we can see some purpose in Space?

Che.

Why is there all the hate for Lance?

Is it because he's a cocky guy from Texas?

[Rooster_Ties]

What is the relative cost of the war in Iraq, vs. the annual budget for NASA??

And what will be the total cost of the war in Iraq (let's say up to ten years), vs. the total of NASA budgets for those same ten years??

It's all a matter of priorities.

[AfricaBrass]

I'm listening to the Paul Kantner/Jefferson Starship album, Blows Against The Empire, from 1970. Now that's my kind of space travel.

[Guy Berger]

It looks like private-sector space travel is finally starting to take off (excuse the pun), so the whole issue of NASA funding will probably be moot within a few decades.

Guy

[AfricaBrass]

It looks like private-sector space travel is finally starting to take off (excuse the pun), so the whole issue of NASA funding will probably be moot within a few decades.

Guy

I agree.

[chris olivarez]

AB that line about the country running on credit already is right on the mark!!!!

P.S.-Your avatar kills me!!!!

[AfricaBrass]

AB that line about the country running on credit already is right on the mark!!!!

P.S.-Your avatar kills me!!!!

Thanks Chris!

I'm glad you've kept your avatar all this time, too.

[Guest che]

It looks like private-sector space travel is finally starting to take off (excuse the pun), so the whole issue of NASA funding will probably be moot within a few decades.

      Guy

I agree.

I think this may be the future of space travel, well at least in part, we have already seen people prepared to fund their own space missions. NASA's cost's seem to be going up and up, and with cuts in welfare and education the costs are hard to justify.

Che.

[take5]

In every generation there are those that question the need to explore, to discover, to learn, and they are silenced in the annals of history by those who actually do explore, discover, and learn.

There is no relation between space travel and social problems. The latter is political, not monetary.

[Guest che]

In every generation there are those that question the need to explore, to discover, to learn, and they are silenced in the annals of history by those who actually do explore, discover, and learn.

There is no relation between space travel and social problems. The latter is political, not monetary.

Well we will have to dissagree on this one.

Space travel costs a great deal of money, money that could be spent on social care or education for example. Sure there is a political dimention to this, as there is to space exploration.

Space travel does not cause social problems, but the cost of the space program is a factor in there being less money to spend on welfare etc. This is one of the factors why the European Space Agency for example, has not been as successful in it attempts to develop space travel.

Che.